NEN 4400-1 versus NEN 4400-2
The right standard part follows first from where the company is established. NEN 4400-1:2023 covers companies established in the Netherlands. NEN 4400-2:2025 covers companies established outside the Netherlands. The SNA scheme names both versions as the current standards basis.
This comparison helps you choose. It is not a legal classification of a borderline case, such as a foreign group with several Dutch entities. Discuss such a situation with SNA, NEN or a specialist before you sign an inspection agreement.
Start with the NEN 4400 and SNA hub to choose your route, and then use the requirements checklist to organise your file.
Last checked: 5 September 2026.
The choice in one table
| Feature | NEN 4400-1:2023 | NEN 4400-2:2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Place of establishment | Netherlands | Outside the Netherlands |
| Target group | Labour providers and (sub)contractors | Labour providers and (sub)contractors |
| Publication | 1 January 2023; start date 1 February 2023 | 1 September 2025; start date 9 September 2025 |
| Typical case | Dutch staffing company with workers in the Netherlands | Belgian company that deploys staff in the Netherlands |
| Succeeds | NEN 4400-1:2017 | NEN 4400-2:2017 |
The worker does not need to hold Dutch nationality. For choosing the standard part, a Polish worker at a Dutch labour provider falls under part 1, based on the Dutch company. Conversely, a company in Poland that hires out workers to the Netherlands may fall under part 2.
What do both parts assess?
The standards focus on checking and assessing obligations arising from work. Examples include the identity of the company, payroll taxes and VAT, wage payment, and checking whether someone is allowed to work in the Netherlands. The exact requirements and evidence are set out in the current standard and the additional SNA documents. The standard text is protected by copyright, so use the official NEN publication for the full requirements.
On the SNA route, the activity can also be decisive. Making labour available, contracting work, brokering and intermediation are not the same thing. Therefore, look at the SNA certificate route alongside the standard part, and prepare the relevant requirements checklist.
What changed in part 2?
NEN published part 2 in September 2025 as the final version. It replaced the edition from 2017. According to NEN, the content is now more closely aligned with part 1. So always check which version number is cited in an old quote, handbook or SNA document.
A practical check is simple. On your project sheet, record the legal name, the Chamber of Commerce or foreign registration number, the place of establishment and the standard version. This prevents a trade name or an old reference to NEN 4400-2:2017 from silently determining your choice.
NEN 4400-1 or -2 is the standards framework. On its own, it does not give you an SNA certificate or a Wtta licence. Read inspection and accreditation for the roles that follow.
Frequently asked questions
Does the nationality of the worker determine the standard part?
No. Look at the place of establishment of the company being assessed. The actual structure can determine which additional rules and documents are relevant.
Can I still use an old NEN 4400-2:2017?
Ask the inspection body which current version applies. NEN names 2025 as the final successor, and the SNA scheme refers to NEN 4400-2:2025.
Is part 1 only for temporary staffing agencies?
No. NEN also names (sub)contractors. The correct SNA module depends on what your company actually does. For cleaning companies, see NEN 4400-1 in cleaning, and for self-employed workers without staff, see NEN 4400 for self-employed workers.